Sheriff should stick to enforcing laws

It appears Sheriff Mike Downey has a new pursuit. I'll be looking for his name as a candidate for a judgeship. Here I thought he was in law enforcement, not lawmaking. It's a shame he voices his personal views on gun control in the press, while carrying the sheriff title. How should his staff interpret these statements in their work? Is Sheriff Downey advocating civil disobedience? Can he do that in an elected position? But wait, wasn't he elected to do all the duties of his position, not just those he favors? I thought the job was to follow the laws and let the courts decide the legality of them. Does the sheriff really feel he is in a position to determine the legality of executive orders?

Society is people working together for the common good. Sometimes it requires forgoing some personal freedoms. It's a social contract. The opportunity exists now, with the backing of the president and many law enforcement people, to make some reasonable changes in gun ownership in the US. What about all the citizenry that want gun control in Humboldt? I wish the sheriff had a bigger picture of society today. With his offices limited resources, shouldn't he be hoping for less firepower and more neighborhood involvement in keeping the county residents safe? Isn't he wary of the amount of firepower that has been found at illegal drug operation sites, run by individuals, not large criminal organizations?

I hope the Board of Supervisors will remind the sheriff to obey and enforce the laws that are written. Considering that the sheriff stated that California laws already impose many of the president's proposed restrictions, is he also contesting the state's wisdom? I hope the board will introduce and approve a resolution in support of President Obama and his gun control measures. Gun control that embraces universal background checks, prohibition of military-style weaponry and limitations on the use and size of ammo clips.

Cries for mental health screening, education, and school guards have to be funded. I'd like to see a tax on weapons and the ammunition that are allowed. The tax money would go to a fund for victims as well as to fund background checks and mental health screening. Similar to driving, I'd like to see registration fees, competency tests and renewals to make sure one has the right skill set to own and use a gun.

I think the sheriff does some fine work, but I hope the sheriff will put his energy into keeping the public safe and let the courts work through his concerns.